As noted in past editions of the Information Bulletin, the Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act, which received Royal Assent on June 29, 2012, amended the Status of the Artist Act (SAA) to abolish the Tribunal and transfer the responsibilities for the administration of the SAA to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The amendments will take effect on a date fixed by order of the Governor in Council.

The amendments have implications on adjacent rules, regulations, and proceedures. The Tribunal is currently working with staff from the CIRB on revising legal documents to ensure their compliance with the modifications.

Certification Renewal Process

The Tribunal has the responsibility to issue certification orders to artists’ associations so that they have the exclusive right to represent self-employed artists in a specific sector with respect to collective bargaining and their relations with producers within federal jurisdiction. Certification is valid for a period of three years after the date that the Tribunal issues the certificate, and is automatically renewed, if no application for revocation or competing application for certification in respect of the same sector has been received.

Amendments to the SAA prescribe that all the responsibilities for the administration of the Act will be transferred to the CIRB. These amendments, however, do not affect the validity of the certification orders; it will simply transfer to the CIRB the responsibility of issuing and renewing the certification orders.

For a list of Artist’s Association accredited under the Act please visit the Tribunal’s online Register.

Independent Production Agreement Ratified

As noted in last month’s issue of the Information Bulletin, The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ)reached a tentative agreement. The Agreement was ratified, on January 11, and took effect on January 1, 2013.

The Tribunal’s Executive Director and General Counsel appointed as Deputy Executive Director and Senior Director of Policy and Planning at the CIRB

The Tribunal would like to congratulate Ms. Diane Chartrand, Executive Director and General Counsel, for her new appointment as Deputy Executive Director and Senior Director of Policy and Planning at the CIRB. Ms. Chartrand joined the Tribunal in July 2003 as Senior Legal Counsel and became Executive Director and General Counsel in 2006. She will remain in her role at the Tribunal until the amendments to the SAA come into force. At that point, she will assume her new responsibilities at the CIRB, and act as key resources for all matters related to the SAA. She is currently working with the CIRBto ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities under the Act to the CIRB. The Tribunal would like to wish her much success in her new endeavours.